The Great Franchisee: John Ramoin, ProLift Garage Doors, Texas

After 24 years working in shipping logistics for various small package shipping companies, John Ramoin was laid off. But Ramoin turned that setback into an opportunity; instead of trying to make his way back into the corporate world, he decided to pursue business ownership. Through research and the help of a franchise consultant, Ramoin found ProLift Garage Doors*, the 20-plus-unit garage door maintenance franchise backed by multi-brand franchisor Premium Service Brands. 

We spoke to Ramoin, who hopes to leave the business to his son once he retires, about his transition from the corporate world to franchise ownership. 

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story – what did you do before franchising?

John Ramoin: I spent 24 years in the small package space helping with the logistics of getting packages from shippers to recipients. I was with FedEx for 19 years managing one of the largest operations for the company. I went from there to a smaller company in a project-based role, and recently I was with another transportation company taking their second-largest building from non-profitable to profitable. Once we got them going again, the company was put up for sale, and left several of us looking for work. I took it as an opportunity for me to do my own thing and start my own business.

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising and what was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchise owner?

Ramoin: I was entertained by the idea that there were companies out there with a set structure that are successful. I’ve proven to excel in that type of structure based on previous experience. Structure is important, and I appreciated that the company had already gone through the obstacles. They already had a playbook ready for me to run through. I wanted to run my own business, but having a playbook to run and follow the rules and guidelines makes it so much easier to be successful.

1851: How did you decide you wanted to be a franchisee?

Ramoin: I wanted to go into business for myself because I always had a desire to own my own business. I want to leave a legacy for my kid to give him an option to take over the business later in life. Working in a corporate environment eliminates a legacy you can take with you. 

1851: How did you perform your research?

Ramoin: I had a franchise consultant who walked me down the path to owning my franchise. This was my second time using a franchise consultant to help me narrow down my search, but the first time I received results that I wasn’t interested in, so I went back to the corporate world. This time, I did a personality profile, and they came back with 10-12 opportunities. By the end, it came up with only brands from Premium Service Brands, and I ultimately chose ProLift Garage Doors.

1851: Why did you pick ProLift Garage Doors? What excited you most about the potential?

Ramoin: I knew I wanted to go into home service because it’s something people will always want to invest in. There is also an urgent nature to ProLift. You’re not always waiting for a new client to call you when they finally decide to invest in their home. They usually need you immediately for a mechanical issue they are experiencing. There also wasn’t a big competitor for garage doors in the area. I had some pretty bad experiences with home service brands, so I wanted to provide a promising service for customers in the North Houston market.

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Ramoin: I would like to employ 10-15 technicians in and around North Houston and expand my business with other brands from Premium Service Brands in the next four years. I want to get this one stable enough to expand, grow and scale into other brands that Premium Service Brands offers. 

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Ramoin: Franchising is different from opening your own business, so you have to be able to follow a structure. Do your research and talk to other franchisees to make sure you feel comfortable with the good, bad and ugly. Make sure you have the capital and the resources to go all-in and to grow. 

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Ramoin: I coach my son’s soccer team. I have a big investment in the community through that. I am serving on the board of a startup nonprofit called Helping Heroes. My friend is a professional fisherman, and he is starting the charter in Houston by helping veterans who are transitioning to civilian life. He takes them with him on fishing tournaments and gives them someone to talk to during their transition. We are currently looking at sponsors to give the veterans gifts that can help them cope and adjust back to civilian life. ProLift has already sponsored monetarily, and we plan to continue providing to the organization.

ABOUT PROLIFT GARAGE DOORS:

ProLift Garage Doors has been installing and servicing garage doors for more than four decades. In that time, the brand has become all but synonymous with commercial and residential garage door services, staking out an enviable position in the niche segment. In 2015, the brand was acquired by Premium Service Brands, offering ProLift Garage Doors the backing and resources of a multi-brand franchise system focused exclusively on service segments. Since then, ProLift Garage Doors has doubled down on its commitment to customer service and unparalleled industry expertise. Today, ProLift Garage Doors performs installations, repairs, replacements and servicing for overhead garage doors and loading dock components for clients across 20 states and counting. For more information of franchising with ProLift Garage Doors, visit: https://www.premiumservicebrands.com/prolift-garage-doors/